Peter Harvey- golfed his age 100 times. Tasman Golf.

Peter Harvey plays golf three times a week, and when he was 69-years-old he shot his age in golf. Now the Kaikoura golfing stalwart has golfed his age 100 times.

The first time Harvey ‘shot his age’ was when he was 69-years-old, and since then has made that scorecard result his personal best and has strived to replicate it every time he plays.

“As soon as I get back into the clubhouse, a lot of the members always ask me, ‘well, how’d you go today?’”

Harvey said it was a goal that kept him interested in the game, though he was quite humble about his achievement, saying there were probably a few around the country who have achieved the same thing. Although it was not an easy thing to achieve, he said.

Harvey is now 77 years old, and has been a part of the Kaikoura Golf Club since 1965 when he was living in Christchurch. He moved to Kaikoura in 1969.

The course is one of his favourites to play on. He also enjoys playing at Marlborough Golf Club at Fairhall, and the Christchurch Golf Club. The game has kept Peter active and connected him with people from all over the country.

Kaikoura Golf Club has a veterans club where resident golfers are teamed up to hit off alongside new players and visitors.

“One of the big things for me is meeting people, that I still know after 50 years,” Peter Harvey said.

“Another big plus for me is going to sort of anywhere around the South Island, and bumping into people that you’ve played with, and renewing that friendship.”

Apart from the enjoyment of playing, and keeping active, Harvey was keen on keeping the club alive and getting younger members in. The average age of Kaikoura Golf Club members is 72, Harvey said. Aiming to attract younger members, the club has a coaching programme for beginners, with the initiative going “quite well”.

Harvey himself had even coached prospective members five years ago. Now they have a resident golf professional, Toni Batey, who teaches schoolchildren and beginner adults.

The club has recently had a “very successful” women’s 54-hole three-day tournament, and the club hosted a ProAm event in October. The ProAm has been running for 21 years - drawing professional and amateur golfers from around the country to Kaikoura.

“It’s looking very positive for golf in this part of the country,” Harvey said.

And for anybody who is inspired by Peter Harvey and his passion for the game he loves, his one tip for beginners is just to relax.

“Don’t tense yourself up playing golf, just be nice and relaxed about it, and you’ll get a lot of enjoyment out of it.”